The son of a communist revolutionary who was purged during the Cultural Revolution is today expected to be unveiled as China's next president.

Current vice-president Xi Jinping is set to be announced as the Communist Party's new general secretary today, taking over from president Hu Jintao after the party's Peoples' Congress wrapped up yesterday.

Mr Xi, whose father, former vice-premier Xi Zhongxun, fought alongside Mao Zedong in the Chinese civil war, is then expected to take over as president early next year.